A shake-up in Attica’s forestry service that will lead to several experienced officials being moved on following damaging wildfires last summer was announced yesterday.

The chief of the Mount Parnitha service, Giorgos Amorgianiotis, the head of Attica’s reforestation department, Apostolos Androu, and the head of the Mount Pendeli forest service, Alexandros Rigas, have all been transferred from their positions.

Fires ravaged Parnitha and Pendeli last summer.

The transfer of the officials came as a surprise as Amorgianiotis had spent 25 years at Parnitha and with Androu had been responsible for the replanting of the mountain, which according to experts has proceeded well since last summer.

Amorgianiotis will be replaced by Yiannis Ziaziris, who only moved to Parnitha last year from the forest service in Atalandi, north of Athens.

Rigas lasted only eight months in his position and will be replaced by Christos Gatsis, who will move to Pendeli from Aegaleo in western Athens.